Multiple Mural Projects in the Downtown San Rafael Arts District

The City of San Rafael invites artists and artist teams to apply for multiple mural projects located in the city's Arts District. Downtown San Rafael has been designated one of 14 California Cultural Arts Districts by the California Arts Council (CAC). The city is seeking to commission new permanent mural artworks on public property at 3 key locations. Depending on the location, some areas may require hand-painting onsite while others may be considered for offsite preparation, such as mosaic, tile, or polytab material. The artwork should add a fresh contemporary aesthetic to complement the city's existing public art portfolio.

The city is looking for varied artistic styles and themes to create a contemporary body of public artwork that is diverse and well-executed. Drawing inspiration from San Rafael and the surrounding region is ideal, even if abstracted. All designs must be appropriate for public viewing and adhere to the City of San Rafael's Public Art Guidelines. Commissioned artworks must be of high artistic quality, work with the location setting and architectural design elements, be appropriate in scale and media, and be made with high quality materials that can be maintained over time. Installation must be reasonably accomplished in under 21 days.

Finalist artists will be selected for one location each. Artist stipends range from $5,000 to $30,000 per location and include all artist and subcontractor fees for materials, labor, travel, and insurance. The city will provide permits, surface preparation, primer coating if necessary, protective coating upon completion, and scaffolding at one location at no cost to the artist. Eligibility is open to California residents with previous experience designing and installing murals, particularly public murals. For the C St & 3rd St Garage location, applicants must have experience installing murals on scaffolding at least 2-stories high. Selected artists must be available for installation between mid-April and June 2026. Application deadline is July 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM PT. Submissions must include a statement of interest (approximately 200 words), resume or CV, and 3-6 images of previous work with dimensions, year completed, medium, and project location.